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Pfitzer Pest Control vs. Defend Pest Solutions

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Pfitzer Pest Control ranks #20 of 164 and Defend Pest Solutions ranks #52 of 164 in the West, with Handshake Scores of 8.5 and 8.0 out of 10. Both have locations on file in South Dakota. Pfitzer Pest Control also has locations in Wyoming, and Defend Pest Solutions in North Dakota.

This comparison sets their verified records side by side: the five scored factors, review platforms, BBB, contract terms, licensing and legal record. It draws no conclusion beyond the scores. The small numbers link to each fact’s source, and each company’s full review has the rest.

At a glance

#20 of 164 in the West

Pfitzer Pest Control8.5/10

Handshake Score · Provisional. #20 of 164 in the West

#52 of 164 in the West

Defend Pest Solutions8.0/10

Handshake Score · Provisional. #52 of 164 in the West

Pfitzer Pest Control and Defend Pest Solutions at a glance
Pfitzer Pest ControlDefend Pest Solutions
Rank#20 of 164 in the West#52 of 164 in the West
ConfidenceLowLow
Provisional scoreYesYes
Door-to-door salesN/Asee recordN/A5
OwnershipIndependent4Independent2, 4
HeadquartersMobridge, South Dakota3Sioux Falls, South Dakota3
States on fileSouth Dakota and Wyoming8 locationsNorth Dakota and South Dakota3 locations
Record verifiedOctober 27, 2026October 27, 2026

Our research

How they score

The Handshake Score is a weighted average of five factors, each scored from 0 to 10 from verified records. The percentage beside each factor is its weight. Each score links to the deductions behind it on the company’s review.

Handshake Score factors: Pfitzer Pest Control and Defend Pest Solutions
Pfitzer Pest ControlDefend Pest Solutions
Customer satisfaction 35%10.09.6
Pfitzer Pest Control scores higher on customer satisfaction (10.0 vs. 9.6).
Complaint record 10%N/A10.0
Defend Pest Solutions scores 10.0 on complaint record; Pfitzer Pest Control isn’t scored on it.
Sales and contract fairness 15%N/AN/A
Neither company is scored on sales and contract fairness.
Licensing and compliance 15%10.010.0
Tied on licensing and compliance (10.0 each).
Legal and regulatory record 15%10.010.0
Tied on legal and regulatory record (10.0 each).
Handshake Score8.5/108.0/10
Pfitzer Pest Control has the higher Handshake Score (8.5 vs. 8.0).

Pfitzer Pest Control had no usable inputs for complaint record and sales and contract fairness, so those factors were left out of its score and its remaining weights were scaled up to 100%.

Defend Pest Solutions had no usable inputs for sales and contract fairness, so that factor was left out of its score and its remaining weights were scaled up to 100%.

Workplace

We rate how companies treat employees from employee-review sites and wage-and-hour records. A workplace score is computed and carries 10% of the Handshake Score when there are at least 20 employee reviews on file (otherwise excluded and remaining weights renormalized).

Workplace scores: Pfitzer Pest Control and Defend Pest Solutions
Pfitzer Pest ControlDefend Pest Solutions
Workplace scoreN/AN/A
Neither company has a workplace score.

Review platforms

Google figures cover each company’s western US listings; the average is weighted by each listing’s review count. Ratings and counts are as each site showed them on the date retrieved.

Google reviews: Pfitzer Pest Control and Defend Pest Solutions
Pfitzer Pest ControlDefend Pest Solutions
Google listings in the West72
Google reviews1,374824
Google average5.04.9

Pfitzer Pest Control 8 review profiles

Review profiles recorded for Pfitzer Pest Control
Platform and scopeRatingReviewsSource
GoogleWyoming5.0/5515View
GoogleWyoming5.0/576View
GoogleSouth Dakota5.0/5254View
GoogleSouth Dakota5.0/5214View
GoogleSouth Dakota5.0/5120View
GoogleSouth Dakota5.0/53View
GoogleSouth Dakota5.0/5192View
YelpSheridan, Wyoming—1View

Defend Pest Solutions 3 review profiles

Review profiles recorded for Defend Pest Solutions
Platform and scopeRatingReviewsSource
GoogleSioux Falls, South Dakota4.9/5347View
GoogleFargo, North Dakota4.9/5477View
BBBSioux Falls, South Dakota—0View

Better Business Bureau

Pfitzer Pest Control. No BBB grade or complaint count is on file.

Defend Pest Solutions. Its BBB profiles show 0 complaints in the last three years; grades vary by branch.

BBB records: Pfitzer Pest Control and Defend Pest Solutions
Pfitzer Pest ControlDefend Pest Solutions
BBB gradeNot shown15, 16, 17Not Rated2, 10
AccreditedNot shownNo
Complaints, last 3 yearsNot shown0
BBB customer reviewsNot shownNo reviews
Profile scopeNot recordedSioux Falls, South Dakota (3200 E Woodsedge St); BBB of Midwest Plains; no ND file found in BBB search for Sioux Falls
RetrievedNovember 2, 2026November 2, 2026
ProfilesNone recorded

Contract terms

Terms as recorded from the linked sources.

Pfitzer Pest Control

No contract terms on record.

Defend Pest Solutions 1 term

  • No pricing, minimum term, auto-renewal, cancellation fee, cancellation method or arbitration terms are published on the company website (home, about, services, residential, rodent and bat pages read).6

Licensing and registrations

Status and expiry dates are shown exactly as the issuing agency’s record showed them on the date retrieved.

Pfitzer Pest Control 6 records (South Dakota 2, Wyoming 2, North Dakota 2)

Licenses and registrations for Pfitzer Pest Control
StateAuthority and typeNumberStatusExpiresSource
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Pesticide Applicators and DealersCommercial applicator, individual license (South Dakota licenses individuals only; no company license exists). Licensee Garret Pfitzer, Glenham South Dakota, the company’s owner; categories G,4,8,128515Current (expires Mar 31 2027)March 31, 202718
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), Pesticide Applicators and DealersCompany roster (Company = “Pfitzer”): 21 applicator rows. 8 hold a current license (Frederick 19791, Lucklum 18636 [Huron area manager], G. Pfitzer 8515, T. Pfitzer 50935, Pfamatter 24621, Ostlie 22787, Sam 50374, Bauer 22862 [Clearmont Wyoming resident]); 11 rows show EXPIRED (former or lapsed staff) and 2 rows have no license numberNot shownBranches staffed by current licensed applicators; expired rows are individual technicians, not a company lapseNot shown18
WyomingWyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA), Pesticide ProgramCommercial applicator, individual license (Wyoming licenses individuals only; no company license). Alden Good, Ranchester, Sheridan County, category 907X. The lookup shows no employer; linked to the company by name and town: the company’s Sheridan page names “Alden Good” as Sheridan area manager and the Chamber lists the business at a Ranchester P.O. box50357Current (expires 1/31/2028)January 31, 202819
WyomingWyoming Department of Agriculture (WDA), Pesticide ProgramCommercial applicator, individual license, Teagan Pfitzer, Glenham South Dakota (“Out Of State”); categories 900, 901E, 903A, 903B, 903C, 903E, 907.G, 907H, 907I, 907J, 908G.101136Current (expires 03/31/2028)March 31, 202820
North Dakota—Commercial applicator certification, individual (North Dakota certifies individuals only; no company license). GARRET L PFITZER, Mobridge, county “OUT OF STATE” (matched to the owner by name and town)10036609Retired (certification expired); the company has no North Dakota officeNot shown21
North DakotaNorth Dakota Secretary of State (FirstStop business search)Business entity registration: PFITZER PEST CONTROL, LLC, Limited Liability Company - Business - Foreign, formed in South Dakota; principal address 12861 293RD AVE, GLENHAM, SD0000169181Inactive - Involuntary; Not Good Standing (AR and RA standing not good); inactive date 07/09/2020; AR due date 11/15/2019Not shown2

Defend Pest Solutions 7 records (South Dakota 4, North Dakota 3)

Licenses and registrations for Defend Pest Solutions
StateAuthority and typeNumberStatusExpiresSource
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCommercial applicator (individual license; SD issues no company pest-control license)Not shownCompany roster (Company search “Defend”): 9 people tied to Defend Pest Solutions; current license for Steven Johnson (No. 50896, exp. Mar 31 2028, categories G,8,9). Owner Gordon Dotson (No. 21873) and Steven Ewell (No. 21871) show EXPIRED; Peyton Cambier (22384) EXPIRED; Jacob Kampmann (51386, categories G,8) has no expiration shown; others have no current license.individual licenses expire Mar 3111
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCommercial applicator, owner Gordon Dotson (individual)21873EXPIREDNot shown12
South DakotaSouth Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesCommercial applicator, “Ewell, Steven” (likely owner Tyler Ewell, North Dakota record is Steven Tyler Ewell; individual)21871EXPIREDNot shown13
South DakotaSouth Dakota Secretary of StateBusiness registryNot shownNot verified (search blocked by reCAPTCHA)Not shownsee record
North DakotaNorth Dakota State University Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program (certifies; North Dakota Department of Agriculture enforces)Commercial applicator certificate, owner Gordon Harrison Dotson (individual; ND has no company license)10173428Active; CORE, HOME-INDUSTRIAL, PUBLIC HEALTH, VERTEBRATE certified 06/05/2024April 1st, 202714
North DakotaNorth Dakota State University Extension Pesticide Certification and Training Program (certifies; North Dakota Department of Agriculture enforces)Commercial applicator certificate, owner Steven Tyler Ewell (individual)10173430Active; CORE, HOME-INDUSTRIAL, PUBLIC HEALTH, VERTEBRATE certified 06/05/2024April 1st, 202715
North DakotaNorth Dakota Secretary of StateForeign LLC registration (Defend Pest Solutions LLC, formed in South Dakota)0006685997Active, Good Standing; initial filing 05/29/2024; AR due 11/16/2026Not shown3

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